Megalictis
Encyclopedia
Megalictis is an extinct genus
of large predatory mustelids, which existed in North America
during the "cat gap
" in the Miocene
period.
The genus was first described by W. D. Matthew in 1907. Two similar genera discovered at the same time, Aelurocyon (Peterson, 1907) and Paroligobunis (Peterson, 1910) were identified as synonymous with Megalictis in 1996, though Paroligobunis was re-established as a separate genus in 1998. P. R. Bjork
, in 1970, assigned the genus to the subfamily Mellivorinae, whilst J. A. Baskin assigned it to Oligobuninae
in 1998.
Three species have been identified in the genus: M. frazieri, M. ferox
, and M. petersoni, whilst two more, M. brevifacies and M. simplicidens, have since been determined to be synonymous with M. ferox.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of large predatory mustelids, which existed in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
during the "cat gap
Cat gap
The cat gap is a period in the fossil record of approximately 25 to 18.5 million years ago in which there are few fossils of cats or cat-like species found in North America...
" in the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
period.
The genus was first described by W. D. Matthew in 1907. Two similar genera discovered at the same time, Aelurocyon (Peterson, 1907) and Paroligobunis (Peterson, 1910) were identified as synonymous with Megalictis in 1996, though Paroligobunis was re-established as a separate genus in 1998. P. R. Bjork
Philip R. Bjork
Philip Reese Bjork is an American geologist and paleontologist known for his work in unearthing dinosaur species in America.-Career:Bjork received his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan...
, in 1970, assigned the genus to the subfamily Mellivorinae, whilst J. A. Baskin assigned it to Oligobuninae
Oligobuninae
Oligobuninae is an extinct subfamily of the Mustelidae family.The subfamily was described by J. A. Baskin in 1998, who assigned seven genera to it - Brachypsalis, Megalictis, Oligobunis, Paroligobunis, Potamotherium, Promartes, and Zodiolestes - representing thirteen separate species....
in 1998.
Three species have been identified in the genus: M. frazieri, M. ferox
Megalictis ferox
Megalictis ferox was a species of large predatory mustelid, now extinct, which existed in North America during the "cat gap" in the Miocene period. It is thought to have resembled a large wolverine, with a body mass of up to 60 kg....
, and M. petersoni, whilst two more, M. brevifacies and M. simplicidens, have since been determined to be synonymous with M. ferox.